Tony had dozed off watching Ziva sleep. He strained his neck to see the clock. It was 6 in the evening. Wow, they must have been tired. Well they both were up all night, them at the hospital and Ziva God knows where. He wished he knew where she went that night. What was her first instinct in all that pain? He had had to leave the room to stop himself from running to her when she sobbed over her father's body. What was her next step? How long had she stayed there that night? He had driven by after he left the hospital, but she was gone. He thought she'd leave for Israel right then and there. Never to be seen again.
She had mentioned going this afternoon, and he still had a worry that she wouldn't come back to him. Well if she wants revenge, I guess she'll have to come back, he thought. At least something would bring her back, and then he could convince her to stay. That became his new plan. He hoped she would let him help with revenge. Her tendency was to do everything on her own, but it was a good sign that she was here beside him now. He wanted to call Gibbs for an update, so he'd have something to tell her, but he wasn't going to leave her for it. She was sleeping so peacefully. She hadn't struggled at all or given any indication that she was having nightmares.
The doorbell rang and he had to make a choice. He tried to slip away from her without waking her up but she stirred. "Go back to sleep, it's just McGee or Gibbs." And gave her a reassuring shoulder rub. He was cold and stiff after laying with Ziva on him for hours, and he noticed her wet hair had left a spot on his shoulder.
He answered the door quietly and saw that it was McGee. "Hey McGee."
"Hey Tony, I have some news that you need to hear. Is Ziva around?" He said looking around the room for her.
"Right here McGee." She said as she entered the room. She couldn't help but hear what was going on.
"Do you have news about last night?" Tony asked, sad that Ziva had gotten up and wishing they were laying in bed still.
"Yeah, Ziva you weren't the target. Your father was." He said and watched her take in the news. Tony watched her trying to keep her ninja face on but struggling. "At least you aren't in danger..." He said and stepped closer to her.
She changed the subject, "When will the body be released? I want to get him to Israel as soon as possible."
Tony sighed. Their time with her guards down seemed to be over. It was such a small window. Now she was leaving and all he could do was pray that she would come back.
"Ducky won't be able to release it for another day or two. Still in investigation."
"I'm coming in to see him." She stated firmly. And grabbed her clothes to go change.
McGee looked after her and then to Tony for help. "Vance has already been chased out of the office twice. There's no way she'll be allowed to come and visit!"
"McGee, she has to." And Tony shook his head. "There's no stopping her."
And McGee agreed, knowing Gibbs was not going to be happy.
They all went in together expecting different outcomes. Tony and McGee knew this would end badly.
The elevator ding made Gibbs look up. He knew she's come to the office today. He opened his arms and she let him hug her for a moment. Tonys defense had been up to protect her, but if this was what she was going to get coming in, then he could relax.
Ziva left them to go see Ducky in autopsy and Tony, McGee and Gibbs got down the business.
"How's she doing DiNozzo?" Gibbs wanted to know.
He didn't know what he want to share with them, but said "She slept some and ate..."
"That's a start." Gibbs nodded his head in approval. "McGee, update him while I run down to see Abby."
"Will do boss." And Tony look at McGee expectantly. "How are you doing Tony?" It was time to stop ignoring the fact that his partner was in love with Ziva. He had just ignored it or made excuses for it for too long. Watching her pain and loss had to be hard on him, and McGee wanted to help.
Tony got teary at the question. "I don't know McGee. Their relationship was so complicated. I have so much anger toward the man... How do you leave your daughter to die in Africa? I'm surprised at how much she told me, how much she has let herself grieve, especially in front of me. It was better then I expected." And he looked up at McGee, " I just hope she doesn't run away."
McGee nodded in agreement. And started to tell Tony how far they had gotten since Tony left to find Ziva that morning.
Ziva came back to the bullpen talking in Hebrew on the phone. Everyone turned to look at her, and she quickly ended the conversation. "That was a family contact. I don't know what we are saying or not saying so I didn't tell them anything. Please full me in so I know what to say."
Everyone looked at Gibbs for approval.
"Gibbs, this is my family! I need to know. People are trying to check in with me and I need to know what to say. Has Israel been told of the attack on my father?"
"Yes, but only just this morning. No one here knew what to say either. It could have caused war."
"I know" Ziva said, "I didn't think of that til this afternoon, but it could have. So could have the murder my father committed the day before. Everything is such a mess. I don't know where to begin. I don't know who I can trust. I have friends in Israel that need to hear from me but I don't know what I can say and can't. I need help Gibbs."
Tony wanted to grab her hand, but he was pretty sure that that was overstepping whatever was getting started between them since it was in front of everyone. So he watched Gibbs and hoped that he would respond well. "You can trust us. We have this. We've been working all night and all day without stop. I don't know who you can trust in Israel, but I trust you to make that decision." He looked at her and smiled. "We'll get through this Ziva. As a team. Together."
"Gibbs, I will need to leave to bury my father..."
"Understood" and he walked off to keep working.
Ziva was trying to decide what action to take next. Who could she trust in Israel? There was no blood relatives left, but Mossad had always been a kind of 'home' for her. Tony interrupted her thoughts with a hand on her shoulder.
"Want to go somewhere and talk?"
She did want that, desperately. But she didn't think they could sneak away without notice. "No Tony, I'm fine." And she gave him a fake and forced smile.
He sighed, this was her stepping away from him. If only they could be at the same place at the same time...
When Ziva came back into the room again, it was obvious she'd been crying. She saw that no one was around but Tony. So she gestured him over. He hugged her tight, and looked at her lovingly, "Don't run away, please?"
The words caught her off guard, and she basked in his affection for a few minutes. Then the moment ended and she said, "I know who killed father."
The words worried him, because that meant she was talking to people that wasn't them. People he couldn't necessarily protect her from. Who is she connecting to? He wanted to know. "Who killed him?" Was all he put into words.
"Ilan Bodner, we have to find him and kill him. Will you help me?"
This could go deep, was his first thought. This could be the end of his carrier. But for her, anything. Especially since she was letting him help and be part of it. "Of course. Where do you want to start?"
"In Israel. I'm leaving as soon as Ducky releases the body. Mossad will have information for me when I get there." His look of concern stopped her. "What?"
He chose his words very carefully, "I'm not sure you should go by yourself..."
"Are you offering?" She asked incredulously.
"If you want me there I'll book the flight now." He watched he to see what she really wanted.
What he saw surprised him. She really did want him to go with her. All these years of not knowing, her eyes were giving her feelings away so much more then ever before. He had always had to guess at what she was thinking. To dig under what she said, but now she was showing him clearly. He longed to have the conversation they needed to have. To get it officially out in the open. To actually be together. But it wasn't the time. It was never the time when the opportunity presented itself. But if he could stay this close to her, well this may actually happen.
"I do," she said and he grinned. Not the fake Tony DiNozzo smile he flashed at the ladies. But a real one warm and glowing. He couldn't stop himself. His lips were on her before he could think. They kissed hungrily for several minutes. Speaking with their tongues what they couldn't say out loud. They broke apart as the elevator dinged. Both panting and not letting go of the gaze they held.
Gibbs, McGee and Abby chose to ignore the obvious as they came around the corner. Huge grins covered their faces but they recovered quickly. All paused mid step to give more time for the couple to recover. *
"Ziva, you are to spend the night at Tony's for safety. Just in case" Tony and Ziva exchanged a look of surprise, as did Abby and McGee. "Tomorrow morning Eli's body will be released to you. Do you have a flight booked to go home, or what are your plans?"
Ziva tried to catch up quickly everything being said, " I have not booked a flight yet because I did not know when the body would be released but now that I know, I will. Thanks Gibbs."
Tony realized he'd have to tell them that he was going with her, and tried to think of the best angle to work from with that information.
Gibbs interrupted his thought, "DiNozzo, I think you should go too. We don't entirely trust Mossad and their part in this. We're still unsure of the depth that this goes."
Gibbs couldn't have made this any better or easier for them. Seriously? Was he being nice and giving them room for a relationship or was he oblivious to how happy all of this news was to Tony. He looked at Ziva, and she looked completely, happily stunned as well. Abby and McGee were sharing a glance as well. Ah Gibbs, you old softy!
Ziva got to work booking a flight and making arrangements to leave in the morning with the body. Tony, McGee and Gibbs were called to MTac for a meeting. Ziva had the vague feeling she was being left out of something, but couldn't spend time on that right then. She ached to get to Israel, with Tony at her side. This thought made her think of the last time they were all in Israel. She sighed and plopped down at her desk instead of leaning over it. What a mess that had been. Oh she had been so mad at Tony, and herself. She had let everything get so out of control. She knew she had a pattern of running away when things got bad. She prayed for strength not to this time. NCIS really was her family. There was nothing left for her in Israel, that is what she needed to remember. These were the people that she could trust. Right here in this building. Yes she wanted revenge, more then she could fathom she wanted revenge. But once that was over, she would continue her life here. Maybe with Tony as more then just a partner? She hoped against hope that was true. That the feelings coming from him and the sweetness was real and not just to help her get through this time of loss. The way he had held her, the look in his eyes lately- you can't produce that. A thrill went through her. It must be real. It has to be true that he loved her.